Wisconsin (7-2) vs. Illinois (3-6) Game Preview

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It doesn’t really matter how it looks at this point – all Wisconsin has to do is keep on winning. If the Badgers beat Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota, they’ll be in Big Ten championship. Win that, and it’s not a 100% lock that they’ll be in the College Football Playoff, but they’ll certainly be close.

The defense continues to be out of this world. It gave up a late first half score to Northwestern, but clamped down the rest of the day in a key 21-7 win in Evanston, making it eighth time all year they allowed 17 points or fewer.

They’re a rock against the run, they don’t get beaten by the deep ball, and they’re not making a whole slew of mistakes – until they get into the red zone.

Bucky has gotten away with it, but the kicking game has been atrocious, and there have been far too many empty drives for a team that doesn’t score in bunches. It was a grind to score against Northwestern – just like it was against Nebraska, Iowa, and just about everyone else.

It shouldn’t be a problem to get things rolling against the Illini.

The Illinois defense pitched a gem against Rutgers a month ago, but since then it got rolled by Michigan and Minnesota before having a few problems in the win over Michigan State.

But the Illini pulled off the victory, and now they have a shot to go bowling if they can win out. They’re not going to do that, but at least the first year under Lovie Smith hasn’t been a total disaster.

Jeff George Jr. is at quarterback again in place of the injured Wes Lunt, and that’s a problem considering he’s completing just 42% of his passes. Don’t expect him to be Jeff George all of a sudden against this Badger D.

The Illini have allowed 170 rushing yards or more against everyone but Murray State. They’ll give up 250 as the Badgers keep on rolling.